Centrifugal separator



W. S. ESTEP.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOH.

APPLICATION FILED APH.20. ma.

1 ,307,-000. Patented June 17,1919.

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CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATDR.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20. 191s.

Patented June 17. 1919.

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CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION mu) APn.2o. 1918.

1,307,000. Patented June 17, 1919.

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WALDRON S. ES'I'EP,

0F CLEVELANIi, OKLAHOMA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 RUFUS V.

HENRY, OF AUGUSTA. KANSAS.

CENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1'7, 1919.

Application filed April 20, 1918. Serial No. 229,805.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. \V.\i.nim.\' S. Es'rnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland in the county of Pawnee and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Separators, of. which the following is a specification.

My present invention has to do with the separation of foreign substance from mineral oil, more particularly crude oiL The object of the invention is the provision of mechanical means for bringing about the thorough separation of a foreign substance .known as B. S. from crude oil, and this expeditiously and without the employment of chemicals or any other extraneous means. The substance referred to as B. S. is largely composed of water in the form of small particles coated with cut oil.

With the foregoing in mind, the inventioii will be fully understood from the following description and claims when the same are read in connection with the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, in ivhich- Figure 1, is a vertical and diametrical section of a separator constructed in accordance with my invention. and designed especially for handling a heavy volume of oil.

Fig. 2, is a detail perspective illustrative of one of the cone-like separator members comprised in the apparatus.

Fig. 3, is a horizontal section taken in the plane-indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 1, looking downwardly.

Fig; 4, is a detail horizontal section taken in the plane b the line 4-4 of Fig. 1, lookin downwar y.

Fig.5, is a detail view showing the arrangement of the valved discharge nipples of the centrifugal vessel relative to the annular stationary trough, which receives from said nipples.

Fig. 6, is a detail longitudinal vertical section taken through one cone-like separator member of the centrifugal vessel.

Fig. 7, is a section taken at right angles to Fig. 6, and in the plane indicated by the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8, is a detail vertical diamctrical section of a modification hereinafter specifically referred to.

Fig. 9. is a horizontal section in the plane i linc 9--9 of Fig. 8.

Referring by numeral to Ilusaid dl'uu ings, and more particularly to Figs. l-7 thereof:

1, is the frame of my novel separator apparatus. Obviously this frame may be of any construction compatible with its purpose, though the construction illustrated has ween found to be well adapted to the use to which it has been put.

Suitably mounted in the frame 1 is the centrifugal vessel 2, which constitutes a highly important part of the apparatus. The'said vessel 2 is provided at 3 with a bottom wall in the form of a truncated cone, and from the inner and upper portion of the said cone bottom 3 depends a tube 4. It will also be noted by comparison 'of'Figs. 1-3 that the bottom 3 is provided at intervals on its outer portion with separator members 5 of inverted V-shape in cross section for an important purpose hereinafter set forth. At its lower 'end the tube 4 is disposed and suitably fixed in the cup 6, and this on 6 is fixed 'on the upper end of a solid she I; 7 that bears a band ull'ey-S, and is stepped at its lower end in t e'fixed bearing'9; Also fixed in the cup 6, and'to'solid shaft 7 is a tubular shaf't'seetibn' 10. This shaft section 10 extends upwardly through the tube 4 and is joined through a coupling 11 with a tubular shaft section 12. This latter shaft section is generally adjacent to its upper end in the bearing 13 and the upper portion of the frame 1; and above the said bearing 13 is equipped with .the receiving element 14. The said receiving element 14 is made proportionately large diameter as illustrated in order to receive crude oil from an inner pipe 15 as illustrated,or from a plurality of pipes in the discretion of the party practising the invention.

The coupling member 11 serves to effect connection of the tubular shaft sections 12 and 10 to radially disposed pipes 16 equipped with depending discharge spouts 17. It will be noticed, however, that the section 12 alone is not in communication with the radial pipe 16, the upper end of the section 10 being closed by plug 18. and the said section 10 being made tubular purely for the sake of lightness.

(ommunicating with and extending outwardly and downwardly from the cup (i and grouped about the said cup are dis rfllnlflt pipes 19. These pipes 19 have their cduclion disposed in the annular tray 20.

till

and from the said tray extends a pipe 21, which has for its function to conduct the clarified oil to a stock tank, or to any other suitable point of storage.

Superimposed and fixed to the top of the vessel 2 adpu'cut to the circumt'erem'e there 01 is a safety rail 2'3, aml jourualcd in ex lcrior hearing 23 on vessel '2 are the vertically disposed stems ll of valves :25 which are preferably for practical purposes in the form of gate valves. At their upper ends the stems 2 are provided with hand wheels 25. arranged within convenient reach of an attendant who may under certain conditions stand upon the vessel 2.

ll wi l he understood from the foregoing that the valves 25 and their complementary stems 24 and hand wheels 26 are grouped at intervals about the vessel 2, and by reference to Fig. 1 it. will be noted that each valve 25 is arranged to control a radially disposed nipple 27 which communicates with and leads from the interiorof the vessel 2 adjacent to the bottom thereof. The said nipples 27 are arranged and movable in the opening 28 providedin the inner wall 29 of an annular receiving trough 30, which is suitably fixed within the frame 1 and is provided with a pipe 31, as best shown in Fig. 5 and designed to lead B. S. to a suitable point of discharge. It will also be observed by comparison of Figs. 1 and 5 that the trough 30 is inclined or canted downwardly toward the pipe31, so as to promote the pasa e of B. S. to the said pipe 31; also that t: e opening 28 in the inner wall of trough 30 -is so disposed that the lower portion of the inner Wall 29 of the trough is gradually increased in height as it approaches the discharge pipe 31. From this it follows that notwithstanding the inclination of the trough 30 and the arrangement of the nipples 27 which move in the horizontal plane in the trough, there is no liability ofB. S. overflowing from the trough through the opening 28.

()n Fig. 3. 32 is a valved pipe designed to be connected with a suitable source of steam supplied and leading into the discharge pipe 31 of the trough fit), and at 33" is another val-red pipe designed to lead from the source of steam supply and also designed for the connection of a hose. to which steam ma) be conveniently applied to the interior of the vessel 2 for thoroughly cleaning the.

said vessel subsequently to an operation of the apparatus. a

.\s will be noted by comparing Figs. 1 and 3, the separator members 5 extend eulirctv cluceu the cone huttom t and the said wall of the vessel 2; also. the nipple 27 are arranged to lead R. S" from the res sol 2 at point between the mcmhers 3 and the radial pipes llt are arrangt-al to discharge streams ol Thl into the vessel at points between the separator members 5.

The construction Iwreinhel'ore specifically referred to, and l)( l shown at the bottom 01 Fig. l, is designed more especially for embodiment in a large machine adapted to handle a lu-avi volume of oil; the solid shal't T. and the cup interposed hetwoen the stem and the tube 1 hciug ucll adapted to withstand a great amount 0! torsional strain imposed on the rotary portion of the apparatus.

in Figs. 5 and 9, I show a modification relating more particularly to the lower portion of the ap nn'atus and designed for incorporation in a comparatively small apparatus, or one designed for handlin a light volume of oil. In the said modiied construction, a tubular shaft 7 is em loyed to conduct the clarified oil to a stoc tank or other suitable point of storage. The said shaft 7 isfixablv connected to a cup 6: and the said cup o is fixably connected in turn with the tube 4 through the medium of which it is connected with the inner portion of the truncated cone-shape bottom The portion of the, pipe 7 within the tube 4 is t'oran'iinous, as indicated by 33 in orderto enable oil to pass from the tube 4 into the pipe 7; and it will also be noted that the portion of the pipe 7 within the coupling 11 is plugged to prevent'the direct passage of the incoming oil to the pipe 7.

As set forth in my statement of invention, the object of this my invention is the provision of 'an apparatus for eliminating the foreign substance well known in the art as B. SP-fromcrt'lde oil; it being an es tablished fact that crude oil" containing more than approximately 2% of the said foreign substance is not marketable.

In the operation of my apparatus to attain the end stated, the crude oil is conducted through one or more pipes 15 into the primary receiver 14 of the apparatus. From the said receiver 14 the crude oil passes downwardly through the tubular shalt section 12. and this radially outward through the pipes 16 from the spouts 17'from which it is discharged downwardly into the centrifugal vessel 2. which is rotated at a hi h rate of speed. In the said vessel 2, and h reason of the centrifugal action plus the action of gravity. the foreign substance known as T5. is caused to collect in the lower and outer portion of the vessel 2. while the comparatively light clarified oil has a tendency to rise and to assume a position adjacent to the upper receiving end of the tube 4. lulu the said tube 4 the clear l passes, and from said tube 4 the clear oil is discharged into the annular tray 20. in which the discharge ends of the pipes 1.) are arranged to rcvohe as above described.

storage through the pipe 21.

Incidental to the described segregation of the foreign substance B. S. in the outer and lower portion of the centrifugal Vessc] '2. and during the holding of the said foreign substance in said vessel portion, the separator members 5 serve the important purpose of effectually preveut'inp collection of the "ll. S. into a unitary mass. this being materially advantageous for the reason that the gathering of the heavy foreign substance "B. S. at any one point in the vessel 2 would have the effect of'dcstroying the balance of the vessel 2, and would. therefore, seriously interfere with the etficien't operation of the apparatus. It will also be noted in this connection that by reason of the relative arrangement ofthe cone shaped separators and the pipes 16, the oil is initially discharged into the vessel 2 at points between the separators 5, and hence the said so arators 5 have only-toretain the foreign su stance B. S. at the points in which said substance is initially placed. I would,'therefore, have it understood that the foreign substance B: S." is not continuallydischarged from the vessel-2. ()nthe other hand the separation of the substance B. S. is effected in the followin manner, namely:

After the vessel 2'has been rotatedfor a necessary period of time with a full complement of oil therein, the speed of the said vessel 2 is reduced to a very considerable extent, or so that it slowly rotates but yet has a tendency to move the mass therein radially outward. At this time while standing on the vessel 2" and holding to the rail 'fl e l'm 20 the clear oil is carried to 22, the operator manipulates the hand wheel 26 so as to open the gate valves 25. When this is done itis to be understood that the comparatively heavy foreign substance B; 8., which has collected between the separators 5, and in the lower outer portion of the vessel 2 during the previous rotation of the vessel 2 at a high rate of speed, will pass through the nipples at 27 into the annular trough 30.'and by reason of. the inclination of the said trough will be carried to the pipe 31. and through the latter to a suitable pointof discharge. .-\t this time steam is let into the pipe 32. and being discharged by the said pipe 32 into the pipe 31 will have the effect of heating. and reducinn the thickness of the foreign substance B. S., with the result that the free flow of the latter through the piwe 31 will be promoted. During the descri \cd taking off or elimination of the foreign sub tance ll. 5.. n free (low of the comparatively clear (rude oil into the tube 4 takes place. l'rom whence the comparatively clear oil is carri d thmugh the pipes 19 and tht tray 20 and the pipe 21 to a storage point. as be fore described. By bserving the oil pass ing to the point of storage. as stated, the attendant is enabled to ascertain when such oil is practically free from the substante B. S.', and when the oil is in such state the attendant is apprised of the fact that it. is time to close the valves 2?. which purpose he accomplishes by manipulation of the hand wheels After the steps set forth in the operation are carried out. the driving of the vessel 2 at a comparatively high rate of speed is resumed to bring about the collcstion of the foreign substance B. S. in the outer and lower portion of the vessel. and the gathering of the clear oil in the upper and inner portion of the vessel, and the free flow of such clear oil into the upper end of the tube l-. It will be noticed in this connection, and particularly to Fig. 1, that the truncated cone-shape of the vessel bottom 3' is materiallyadvantageous in bringing about the result stated, and inasmuch as the said bottom 3 facilitates the gravitation of the substance B. S. to the outer and lower portion of the vessel 2, and in this the said bottom 3 is assisted by the shape and sloping sides of the separators '5. It will also be noted thatthe truncated cone-shaped bottom 3 as sists the tendency .ofthe comparatively light and clarified oil, which tendency is to rise and gather initially in the upper portion of the vessel2, but also in the inner portion of saidvessel from whence it is free to pass in company with but an infinitesimal quantity of the foreign substance B. S.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that my novel separating apparatus when properly operated is adapted to reduce the proportion of the foreign. substance B. S. to less than 2% in a large volume of crude oil, and in a short period of time; also that the operation of the apparatus does not entail the employment. of skilled labor, and that it may be carried out to the best advantage without the assistance of chemicals. or other extraneous means whatsoever. In other words my novel apparatus is adapted to accomplish the elimination of the foreign substance B. S. by purely mechanical means. which takes advantage of the principles of centrifugal action and gravity.

I prefer to employ gate valves, as stated, for controlling the nipples 27. as said valves leave the passages through the nipples entirely unobstructed. I do not desire, however. to be understood as to be confining myself to valves of the ate type. since other valves might be employed. if necessary. without affecting the general operation of my apparatus.

I would also have it llll(ltll' l(l(l(l that my novel apparatus is not designed to reclaim any portion of the foreign substance ll. S." On the other hand the function of my apparatus is purely to free. or practically tree,

the crude oil of the substance B. 8., so as to render the crude oil perfectly marketable, and that which is done with the foreign substance B. S. after separation from the oil is not of my invention.

Subsequently to an operation of my novel apparatus, it is desirable to quickly and thoroughlv clear the vessel 2 of collected sediment, and to attain this end the valves 25 are opened and the vessel 2 is slowly rotated while steam from a hose connected to the valved pipe 33 is played intothe vessel 2 and upon the separators 5 and the other parts thereof.

In the modified construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the clarified oil passes from the tube 4 throu h the foraminations of the shaft section 7 into said shaft section, and is conducted by the stem to a suitable point of storage Experience has demonstrated that the apparatus herein shown and described is pos sessed of large capacity in proportion to its size and the power required to driv''it, and I, therefore, prefer to employ in carrying out of my invention an apparatusinwhich the parts are similarly constructed and'relatively arranged. I do not desire, however, to be understood as confining myself to the said specific construction and relative arrangement of parts, as sincein the future ractice of the invention changes in the 01m and arrangement of the parts may be made without involving departure -from the principle of my invention =as'defined in my appended claims. ..E 85.: ii

Having described my invention, what- I desire and claim by Letters Patent is w w 1. In a centrifugal separating ap aratus.

the combination 0 a vessel moun fori'otation about its axis, means 'in the vessel for receiving oil from the upperinner portion of the vessel, means for delivering oil to the vessel at intervals and at points adjacent to the side Wall of the vessel, means forming the bottom of the vessel and ink clined outwardly and downwardly toward the said side wall, means on the'said inclined bottom means for separating the oil in the vessel into portions; said separating means being arranged in staggered relation to the oil delivering means, and means carried by the vessel and arranged in substan tial vertical coincidence with theoil do livering means for conducting foreign substance from the vessel. i

2. In a centrifugal separating apparatus, the combination of a vessel mounted for rotation about its axis, means in the vessel for receiving oil from the upper inner portion of the vessel, means for delivering oil to the vessel at intervals and at points adjatoward the said side wall, means on the said inclined bottom means for separating the oil in the vessel into portions: said separating means bein arran ed in staggered relation to the oil de ivering eans, means carried b the vessel and arranged in substantial vertical coincidence with the oil delivering means for conducting foreign substance from the vessel, and valves in the said conducting means.

3. In a centrifugal separating apparatus, the combination of a vessel mounted for rotation about its axis, means in the vessel for receiving oil from the upper inner portion of the vessel, means for delivering oil to the vessel at intervals and at points adjacent to the side wall of the vessel, means forming the bottom of the vessel and m clined outwardly and downwardly toward the said side wall, means on the said in clined bottom means for separating the oil in the vesselinto portions; said separating.

means bein arran in stag red relation to the oil deliveriii g means, iiieans to be carried by the vessel and'arranged in substantial vertical coincidence with the oil (16* livering means for conducting foreign substance from the vessel, valves in said conducting means, and a stationary annular trough having an opening in its inner wall for the reception and play of the said conducting means of the vessel.

4. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination of the i vessel in rotation about its axis, and having abottom in the form of atruncated cone, a tube extending down-j wardly from the innerportion of said bot-. tom, separators of inverted V -shape in crosssectionfiarranged at intervals on the outer portion of said bottom, means for delivering oil to the receptacle at points above the spaces between said cone-shaped separators, and means for conducting foreign substance from the vessel at points between said separators.

5. A centrifugal separating apparatus comprising a vessel mounted for rotation about its axis, and having a bottom of the shape of awtruncated cone, a central shaft carrying the said vessel, and having an upper tubular portion, means for supplying oil to said tubular portion, radial pipes extending fromsaid tubular portion and arranged to discharge in the outer upper portion of the vessel, separators of inverted V- shape in cross section arranged on the outer portion of the truncated cone bottom and disposed in staggered relation to the said radial pipes, a tube connected with and adapted to receive oil from the upper inner portion of the truncated cone bottom. means for conducting oil from the said tube, and means for conducting collected foreign substance out of the vessel at points between the separators.

6. A centrifugal separator apparatus, comprising a vessel mounted in rotation about its axis and having eduction conduits extending outwardly from its lower outer portion at intervals, valves controlling said conduits, a safety rail on the vessel, and valve stems grouped about the vessel at intervals and connected therewith, and having handles arranged in the plane above that of the vessel.

7. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination of the vessel mounted in rotation about its axis, and having eduction conduits extending outwardly from its outer lower portion at intervals, and also having valves in said conduits, and stems grouped about the vessel and extending above the stem and connected to the said valves, and carried by the vessel so as to rotate therewith.

S. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a fixed stationary trough inclined downwardly to a point of discharge and having an inner side wall, and an opening in said wall, and also having the inner wall portion below the opening increased in height as it approaches said point of discharge, and a centrifugal vessel mounted for rotation within the annular trough and having eduction conduits disposed and movable in a horizontal plane in the said opening of the trough.

9. In a centrifugal separating apparatus, the (ombinatiOIr of a stationary annular trough open at its inner side, and a vessel arranged within the trough and for rotation about its axis, and having eduction conduits at intervals of its outer and lower portion disposed and movable in the opening of the trough, and also having a truncated cone-shaped bottom, a tube adapted to receive an element of the oil from the upper inner portion of said bottom, separators of inverted V-shape in cross section arranged on the outer of the bottom at intervals, means for conducting an element of the oil from the said tube to a point of storage, and means for delivering oil to be separated into elements to the vessel above the spaces between the cone-shaped sepzrators.

10. In a centrifugal separating apparatus, the combination of stationary, annular receiving means, a vessel mounted for rotation about its axis and arranged within said means, and having valved eduction means at intervals arranged to deliver substance to said receiving means, means in the vessel for accelerating the passage of heavy substance to the outer lower portion of the vessel, means at intervals on the last. named means for separating the substance into portions, and means rotatable with the vessel and constructed and arranged to supply substance to be separated to the vessel at points above the spaces between the said separating means.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VVALDRON S. ESTER Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Yatenta, Washington, D. 0. 

